Darkness Rising

Elf

The elves are a race in retreat and decline. Centuries ago, they colonized the world from their island home of Xoth Sarandi, building magical sea-gates from that island to the continents of the world. To the races that occupied those continents, they brought their own advanced civilization, with all the arcane secrets that elves are renowned for. In some places, they ruled over the colonies like despots, turning the other races into slaves. In others, they went so far as to teach the secrets of high magic to the natives, seeing it as a life-improving technology that they would need in order to advance themselves.

That empire is now gone and has largely withdrawn from the world. As with all empires in their time, it fell into decadence and crumbled, leaving behind only a legacy of beautiful buildings, lawful government and magical knowledge. The elves who remain are mostly the descendants of late colonist families who chose to stay, or young sons and daughters of Xoth Sarandi who have an urge to explore the world.

All over Ashfar, the elves are remembered as former overlords. Some regret their passing but most are glad to be back in charge of their own destinies again. The elves’ attitude to the people over which they ruled was coloured by how closely they believed themselves to be related to them.

High Elf~
High elves have a keen mind and a mastery of at least the basics of magic. In Ashfar the elf is haughty and reclusive, believing themselves to be superior to non-elves and even other elves. They often have hair of silver-white, black, or blue, but various shades of blond, brown, and red are not uncommon. Their eyes are blue or green and flecked with gold.

Wood Elf
Wood elves have keen senses and intuition, and your fleet feet carry you quickly and stealthily through their native forests. Wood elves’ skin tends to be copperish in hue, sometimes with traces of green. Their hair tends toward browns and blacks, but it is occasionally blond or
copper-colored. Their eyes are green, brown, or hazel.

Swamp Elf
These are a sub-race of elf found inhabiting the marshes of some parts of Ashfar. They have slightly webbed feet and toes and much larger ears than usual. When resting, they tend to sit in a squatting posture. The elves who first discovered them were horrified, thinking them to be some kind of throwback. Unlike the drow, who were corrupt and evil but at least civilized in their way, the swamp elves were living like the most primitive of humans. The only thing to do was to enslave the lot and put them to work on the elven plantations.